Written by: Ashtyn at 1:20 am
Filed under: Entertainment,Music
Country music is a very specific genre of music. People tend to either love it or hate it. The same goes for the small town, simple minded mentality of a grown woman. People either find it endearing or borderline embarrassing. Kellie Pickler began her American Idol career with two strikes against her for a lot of people. She was a primarily country singer and she lived in a small town without realizing there was a big world beyond those walls.
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During American Idol’s season Pickler was good during her country vocals and came out offering lackluster performances in other areas. She did not appear to be an all-around performer and that led to her demise. However, soon after American Idol’s end Pickler was picked up and had her first CD, Small Town Girl, on the market before the winner and runner up were chosen for her season. Small Town Girl offers some Southern Twang Country with a slight pop-rock feel to the music. Much of it is upbeat and sassy like the beginning track “Red High Heels”. This was by far the best choice for the first song on the CD. The song shows Pickler’s personality, allows for a good time, and is not Country enough to scare away someone who isn’t interested in the genre. It is a definite good start to the album. |
It was also the moment when I was pleasantly surprised and thankful that I might be wrong about what I thought I would end up saying about this CD. Country is not one of my favorite genres, but I have some artists I like. I did not think Pickler was going to be one of them, but after listening to her CD, I can say that I wouldn’t mind listening to it again.
Of course, you have to realize that Kelli Pickler is not without her faults. Some of the songs end up falling flat in comparison to the other, high quality songs that are available. Her voice isn’t perfect, and at times she ends up sounding whinier than necessary or pitchy in comparison to the songs that she just nails.
Some of the ballads tend to repeat the lyrics and make it clear that she is singing for a worthy cause. Although at some point you might begin tuning out that message because many of the ballad songs offer a similar theme with occasionally corny lyrics.
For instance in “Wild Ponies”, a song about a battered woman who needs to be free of a bad situation, you hear lines that while possibly true, offer a rhyme that is too poetically corny to be noticed for long. Some of these lines include “The first time he hit her/Was right after church, He said he was sorry/But it only got worse”.
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However, taking into account this is her first CD it was an excellent attempt and shows that she could become better if she continues to put her heart and mind into the business. Kelli Pickler effectively managed to break away from the American Idol loser strife, as many artists in season 5 managed to do. While she is not and likely will not be more successful than some of the others in that bunch, she turns out to be much more likable then anticipated. |
Bottom Line: Small Town Girl offers a look into the life and mind of the music of a small town girl. At times the lyrics are comical, but for the most part the CD does show promise. If you like Country, chances are you will find something to like in this debut CD. However, if you do not like Country there will be little pleasing you in this particular album.
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Written by Ashtyn - Visit Website
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Ashtyn Evans is a writer, advocate, free thinker, and all around cynical person. Always quick to find the negative in anything pop culture, she loves being a part of that which she despises. Ashtyn and Dominick own numerous blogs together, as well as a full-time writing business. In her spare time she is a full-time college student studying History and Psychology. She plans to one day give up her freelance career and be a full-time blogger, novelist, and domestic goddess. She can be contacted for writing projects, fan mail, or just to say hi. She really is friendlier than we make her look.
